We are often asked about the law surrounding seagulls and, in the event of a seagull problem, what is permissible. Here are the facts:
All species of gull are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. This means that it is illegal to intentionally or, in Northern Ireland and Scotland, recklessly injure or kill any seagull or destroy or damage a nest that is still being used or the contents of the nest. In Northern Ireland and Scotland it is also illegal to stop seagulls from accessing their nest.
However, it is recognised that in certain circumstances it may be necessary to implement control measures. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) can issue licenses permitting seagull nests to be destroyed and birds to be killed if necessary. The latter will usually sanctioned if the seagulls are causing serious damage to agriculture, are potentially spreading disease or to conserve other bird species.
Seagull Control Problems
If seagulls are causing a problem to your property then only the occupier or owner of the building can take action. We recommend that you call in a professional team who possess a DEFRA licence such as Total Bird Control to take action for you. Your problem may be dealt with simply by implementing bird spikes or bird netting but if more drastic action is required, we will be able to help you.
At Total Bird Control we have a range of humane methods to help deal with your seagull control problem. If you want to understand the legalities of dealing with a seagull control problem then please speak to one of our specialist team and we can arrange a site survey to assess the seriousness of the situation.
